Anyway, I've had the Hobbit on pre-order from Amazon ever since they first announced it, and it finally arrived last week, so at last I had a chance to watch it..
I missed it at the cinema , no idea why, I think we just got too busy, and although the current Mrs Steve the Wargamer wanted to see it the two ingrates, sorry daughters, didn't... anyway, it was missed so I was desperate to see it...
Opinion seems to be divided (like Mrs Thatcher) between those who think it's brilliant, and those who think it's a huge mistake.. I fall into the former camp as I sat down and had no idea where two and a half hours went, it was so good...
The dwarves are brilliant, think heavy metal, authoritarian, biker gang and you're getting close - everything is leather, metal, armoured, heavy, hairy... just how you imagine they would have been... all axes and moustaches.... superb...
The plot line is pretty close to the book, and like the book Jackman has stayed faithful to the tone.. I first read The Hobbit 30 odd years ago and remember grinning at the joke about the invention of golf, and it's in the film - the tone is just right... The Hobbit was written for children and is lighter than Lord of the Rings, so is the film..
The acting is superb, the special effects extraordinary (the city of the Goblin king is just amazing!), I loved the incident with the trolls, and Bilbo's riddle competition with Gollum was exactly as I remembered it in the book....
The side story with the pale Orc (Azog, the Defiler) whilst not specifically a part of the original book is a good one, and provides some wonderful scenes with the Orc scouting pack mounted on Wargs chasing the party across that beautiful terrain...
Loved the depiction of Radagast the brown (another character we know of through the Lord of the Rings who didn't feature in the Hobbit), Saruman continues to be a pompous irritant, and is there anyone better suited to depict Galadriel than Cate Blanchett??
Watch it.... just trust me on this... watch it... Steve the Wargamer rates this 9 out of 10 (I'm already looking for a two and a half hour slot so I can watch it again)...
Glad you enjoyed it, must admit it got a big thumbs up from me too for similar reasons you list.
ReplyDeleteCheers Scott, so much to chose from, but what was your favourite bit?
DeleteI've not seen it yet, but the new DVD is waiting at home for me!!
ReplyDeleteRay, you're in for a treat....
DeleteIt's good but the 2 year wait for it to finish is annoying!
ReplyDeleteFran - the current Mrs Steve the Wargamer said the same, and was also a bit disappointed that Mirkwood won't feature until a later episode... I was in two minds about turning a small book into 3 big films, but based on part 1 I think they're going to be absolute crackers and well worth the wait
DeleteWell technically it is not a single small book :) but the entire quest for Erebor, which includes a huge amount of backstory relevant to Lord of the rings that is not in the hobbit.
DeleteHence Dol Gulder, the necromancer, the white council, etc, etc.
Mike - ah... of course - stuff from the Silmarillion??
DeleteWe have had to buy two copies, as my son and daughter seem to be watching it on a permanent loop and I need one to use to start painting my figures!
ReplyDeleteLegatus - I look forward to seeing the results of your efforts...
DeleteSteve
ReplyDeleteI was late to the show too - but my wife took me to see it on the IMAX for my birthday. I thought it was very well done - I loved the dwarves.
Cheers
PD
Peter - they reminded me of the Warhammer models - especially the hair styles... Celtic biker gang in armour.... :o))
DeleteI must be the only person in New Zealand to not have seen it. Again I am not sure why I never saw it at the movies.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Brian
Brian - buy it forthwith!!
Delete